In A Nutshell

Game Jam Boston June 2007Where:Olin College, Needham MAWhen:June 8-10, 2007 (Fri-Sun)Goal:In less than 3 days, create a computer game from scratch that takes advantage of XO hardware.

Introduction

Summary of the event coming here soon.

What is a Jam?

An OLPC Jam is a content creation crunch that gets participants from idea to reality in just a few days. By the end of the Jam, you'll have something finished to test with local schoolchildren (who serve as judges for the event). It's a great way to get started developing for OLPC. Click here to learn more.

I want to participate!

Jams are collaboratively organized events, so the best way to get started is to just dive in and introduce yourself. Participating in this Jam? Have ideas? Want to coordinate rides, teams, projects, or talk about the Jam? Edit the Jam Talk Page!

About the Game Jam

The OLPC Game Jam is a game design and programming event designed to encourage (simultaneously) experimentation and innovation in the game industry and kick off development of open-source games for the OLPC platform (the XO). A group of game developers will get together over a three-day period to make as many innovative games as possible for the laptop, which is being distributed to children in developing countries around the world. Our goal is not just some great games and experimentation for the XO Laptop but also to bring the unique constraints and output of this project to next years GDC Experimental Gameplay Workshop. Code will be released on SourceForge under the GNU General Public License so everyone can freely experiment with the source and games.

What we're making

The Jam will be split into four development tracks centered around a particular hardware or end-usage aspect of the laptop:

Mesh Networking: Each XO has mesh networking capabilities that allow it to broadcast and connect to any laptop around it, allowing activities to easily be made collaborative.

Camera: Each XO has a videoconferencing-quality camera embedded to the side of its display.

Tablet Mode: The XO laptop has a distinct tablet mode where the screen can output high-resolution b/w graphics in sunlight conditions and features built in game-pad like buttons. This mode might lend itself to specific styles of play including one involving real-world activity beyond a confined space.

Malleable Games for Learning: A key consideration of the OLPC effort is certainly learning. However, more importantly it is hoped that kids can use the laptops to create their own games and experiment deeply with learning games by having access to modify and change them as part of a learning process. This track will elicit games that speak to this ideal.

Organizers

Game Jam is being run by SJ Klein (One Laptop Per Child), Mel Chua (Olin College), Ben Sawyer (Digital Mill) and Darius Kazemi (Boston Game Jam).

Who we're looking for

We were looking for (and found, beyond our wildest expectations) a fantastic group of game developers, art/sound/writing/design/marketing people with game design experience, student volunteers, and educators to join us in creating and participating in the Jam.